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 |  | At-Home Test: $10-$50 |  | Laboratory Test: $50-$80+ |  | Blood or Hair Test: $100-$650+ |
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Drug and alcohol tests typically are used to test saliva, urine, blood or hair for signs of alcohol or drug use. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration[1] , at-home drug tests should be used as preliminary tests only, and results should be confirmed by a laboratory.
Typical costs: | - Drug and alcohol testing typically costs from less than $10 to $50 or more for an at-home saliva or urine test for alcohol, a single illegal drug or multiple illegal drugs -- or for a hand-held digital breathalyzer tool. For example, Walmart charges $9 for a five-pack of saliva test strips for alcohol. Walgreens charges $10 for an At Home Drug Test urine test for marijuana. Drugstore.com charges $28 for the At Home Drug Test, which tests urine for six types of illegal drugs and offers the option to mail the test to a laboratory for confirmation of preliminary results. Drustore.com charges $38 for the First Check Home 12 Drug test, which checks urine for seven types of illegal drugs and five types of prescription drugs and also offers mail-in verification. Walmart charges $39-$53, depending on brand, for a digital breath monitor for alcohol.
- Drug or alcohol testing typically costs $50-$80 or more for a drug and alcohol urine or saliva test performed at a laboratory. For example, Any Lab Test Now[2] charges $49 for a 10-drug urine laboratory test and $69 for a five-drug saliva laboratory test. Health Testing Centers[3] charges $69 for a laboratory urine test for nine types of illegal drugs and $79 for a laboratory test for nine types of illegal drugs plus alcohol.
- Drug and alcohol testing typically costs under $100-$650 or more for a blood test or hair test. For example, PrepaidLabTest.com[4] charges about $85 for a blood test for marijuana or cocaine and $200 for a seven-drug blood test. And Any Lab Test Now[5] charges $189 for a five-drug hair follicle test that checks for use in the past 90 days, $229 for a blood alcohol level laboratory blood test and $650 for a hair test to check for a history of alcohol abuse in the past six months.
Related articles: Drug or Alcohol Rehab, Blood Tests, Drug Defense Attorney, DUI Attorney
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What should be included: | - Depending on the type of test being used, a sample of urine, saliva, blood or hair is collected. It is then tested for the presence of a type of drug, or its metabolites, which are substances the body changes the drug into as it is being processed by the liver. If preliminary results come back positive, either at home or in the laboratory, a second laboratory test is required for confirmation. This test can determine exactly which drug is present.
- LabTestsOnline.org, which is produced by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, offers information on drug testing[6] .
- A digital breathalyzer uses an alcohol gas sensor to measure the amount of alcohol in the breath, and typically can detect even very low levels.
Additional costs: | - Individuals with serious alcohol or drug problems might choose to go to rehab, which typically costs less than $5,000 for an outpatient program or $6,000-$50,000 for a 30-, 60- or 90-day stay in a residential or inpatient treatment facility.
Discounts: | - Some laboratories offer periodic specials. For example, AnyLabTestNow.com[7] in Texas has offered a $10 off online coupon for any test that costs $49 or more.
Shopping for drug or alcohol testing: | - At-home drug and alcohol tests are sold at most drug stores, as well as at websites such as Drugstore.com, CVS and Walgreens.
- Companies such as LabCorp[8] , Quest Diagnostics[9] and Health Testing Centers[10] offer drug and alcohol testing direct to patients. Laboratories are regulated by the federal government through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)[11] , which sets quality standards -- and some states also have their own requirements. LabTestsOnline.org, an informational website produced by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, offers information on laboratory oversight[12] as well advice for consumers on how to choose a high quality laboratory[13] .
- It is important to note that different types of drug tests have different windows of detection, as well as other pros and cons. The AAIM, an association for employers, offers a comparison of different types of drug tests.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
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| Posted by: Darla Baker in fairfield, NJ. | Posted: July 28th, 2021 05:07AM |
| Type of Test: DRUG TEST | Brand/Laboratory: UNITED CLINICAL LABORATORY |
My daughter went to a 30-day inpatient program (10 days in a clinical setting) for detoxing in 2019. She had Anthem insurance at the time, who denied as the lab was not "in-network" even though we were told everything was approved through insurance. She was charged $5500 each for 4 drug screens and $2300 for another drug screen (2 of these tests were done on the same day). Two years later, she received a bill for $24,300.00. |
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| Posted by: a user in DALLAS, TX. | Posted: November 27th, 2019 07:11PM |
| Type of Test: urine drug screen | Brand/Laboratory: Quest |
Outrageous over-billing. Much is wrong with the process of pricing and providing health care. How and why do physicians and labs continue to get away with this? Why has there not been anything done about this ongoing and growing problem?
11/2019 |
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| Posted by: Daniel Cramer in Pittsburgh, PA. | Posted: January 5th, 2019 03:01AM |
| Type of Test: Drug Urine | Brand/Laboratory: QDV Lab Test |
According to our insurance provider drug urine testing is not medically necessary - even though it is required for drug rehad treatments - the government should really address this one. But even after Quest found out that there was no insurance to pay this and it would be a cash payment they refused to lower the cost. Their rep who comes to the doctor office stated they would lower it but the filling folks say not. I found on their site after this that they offer the exact same testing for under $100 - but yet they refuse to lower the cost - we had 4 tests done before we found out that the insurance didn't cover it - now owe Quest thousands of dollars for hundreds of dollars worth of tests. What a way to promote drug reform - do not under any circumstances use Quest Diagnostics - they are not honest and only out there to rip you off for what they can get |
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| Posted by: MP7 in Columbus, OH. | Posted: April 27th, 2018 09:04AM |
| Type of Test: Urine drug screen | Brand/Laboratory: Two different labs |
I am filing a complaint with my State attorney general. We all need to do this ASAP!
Last year over $100,000 in claims submitted to my ins for a program that was cash only. They submitted fraudulent claims for room & board I was out patient, saw doctor once, only 4 visits/drug screens total. I paid $85 which is all I was told it would cost. No mention of $100,000’s if dollars they lab would try to get from my insurance company. I tried contacting my insurance & HR they say they are handling it. God help us all! I’m very upset this makes us look bad to our employers. They need to be put out of business & stopped from continuing to do this to people.
Yesterday I see another lab from my new (I trusted doctor) submitting $7,500 claims for one urine test. I am so done!!! |
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| Posted by: MP7 in Columbus, OH. | Posted: April 27th, 2018 09:04AM |
| Type of Test: Urine Lab tests | Brand/Laboratory: True fit |
This is happening to us! It seems like fraud!! Over $100,000 in claims from a local rehab. I was only supposed to pay $85 out of pocket for outpatient care. Went 4 visits. Changed to my old doctor as soon as I felt something was wrong. Now they submitted false & outrageous claims like room & board. I think they wound up getting $7,000 from the insurance but I notified them something was wrong and not to pay. You can search owners at the state of Ohio business filingd search. I looked up these names one being Michael maymind who I believe if my memory serves me correct that guy owns or co-owned the rehab & labs. The lab was no help of course nor the office. Lab sd had to bill us to show they attenpleted to collect & to ignore it. WHAT BILL have you ever gotten that if you don’t pay they say oh no problem. NONE! they get turned into collections & reported to credit bureau. This is ludicrous where do we turn for help? looks like any1 involved in Sub.programs are being victimized,scammed. |
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| Posted by: Disabled and dismayed in Medford, OR. | Posted: April 17th, 2018 03:04AM |
| Type of Test: Urine | Brand/Laboratory: Golden Technology |
Went into a new pain management Doctor to have my Baclofen pump refilled. They asked for a urine test before I was even called back. I was then told they couldn't refill my pump and reffered me to the infusion center at the Hospital. So, Dr. Office billed $540 for 20 minute visit. $2385 for urine test. I haven't received a bill from hospital yet.
Here is the kicker, I was told at the hospital I have to refill pump every 3 months. |
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| Posted by: spoons58 in Medford, NY. | Posted: February 10th, 2018 11:02AM |
| Type of Test: Urine test | Brand/Laboratory: Quest/Aegis/Tenet |
Now the doctors are getting kick backs from the labs some even own their own Labs,And the different between in-network and out is the time they have to summit the bill,plus prices ,in- network with my ins co,they 30-90- to submitt the bill, out of network they have a year,JUST TO SUBMITT the bill to the ins co. THIS SCAM IS INSANE and we all need to fight call congressman put in a FRAUD CLAIM IN EACH STATE to your doc and the the lab you have the right to request an itemized statement from ur doc and lab...Plus you have to have signed a contract giving them premission to send the test to a lab. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT its FRAUD!!!!! |
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| Posted by: spoons58 in Medford,NY, NY. | Posted: February 10th, 2018 11:02AM |
| Type of Test: urine | Brand/Laboratory: Quest/AEGIS/Tenet |
After leaving my Suboxione doc. who was pain management guy, I received (7) lab bills all at once from (3) different lab all from the prior year 2017, after being at this doc. for 3 years where no drug test was ever, sent out to a lab. Im in a Suboxione prg. where you pay $100 a month and that includes everything.And where I go once a month to a doc. Ive have had (5) different doctors in the last 11 years and I NEVER HAD A URINE TEST GO TO A LAB!!For the first 2 years I was at this last doc, I didnt even have ins. so who paid for the lab test then?? And without telling me you just hit me with 7 months of bills after I left that doc. Now Im putting in a fraud case with New York State, and I will never pay a dime of this SCAM bullshit,that is hitting the entire country..And this will screw my new credit up. BUT We are all getting robbed !!! ,So everybody needs to sue the doctors and put in a FRAUD CLIAM AND FIGHT THIS CRAP ,and if your in a suboxione Prg. dont tell them u have ins. |
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| Posted by: Sarah Justice in Columbus, OH. | Posted: December 18th, 2017 09:12AM |
| Type of Test: Urine drug screen | Brand/Laboratory: Aegis |
I went to a PM doctor for consult. The very first thing they had me do was pee. The person from the lab was there and I was told I couldn't touch anything or flush - don't know why. Anyway, I paid for the consult, and he required a psych eval which I also paid, and then it took SIX MONTHS to get my records. I passed both the drug screen and psych eval and agreed all of that he tells me he's not taking me as a pt. I didn't pay the remainder of the lab bill land REFUSED to pay for the "appt" where I was told he wasn't going to treat me. He billed me for about six months then turned me over to collections. A charge of $550.00 for his front desk person to tell me ... Uhh no!
Things on this front have gotten WAY out of control. He didn't take me because I'm prescribed a stimulant, which he knew from the get go. That's fraud. |
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| Posted by: KT in TX in Houston, TX. | Posted: July 30th, 2017 08:07AM |
| Type of Test: Urine test | Brand/Laboratory: Lynn County Hospital District |
My son was experiencing depression, so we took him to a Dr to discuss. They wanted to do a pee test to make sure he wasn't taking drugs. We agreed thinking it would be maybe $50. Bill came in at $1,600! Insurance covered some, but it's still $304 to pee in a cup? This is why 'health care' cost are increasing out of control. The test wasn't even about helping him, it was a lie detector test. Are taking drugs? No. Well that's nice, but let's just check anyway - and use the expensive test to confirm it. |
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| Posted by: Angry Patient in Lafayette, LA. | Posted: July 13th, 2017 09:07AM |
| Type of Test: Urine Drug Screen | Brand/Laboratory: Clinical Reference Laboratory |
So I have been going to a Suboxone doctor for years now and just within the past year they went from doing to just in house drug testing to in house then lab testing. I was fine with all this because I stay clean, but then I started to receive bills in the mail anywhere between $7500-$13000 just to piss in a cup!!!! The current bill I have in front of me is from January 2017 and it's for $8640. Who the hell charges this dam much for a simple drug screen?? So I bring one of the bills with me to the next doctor appointment, I think that one was around $9000 and I tell the lady at the front desk that this has to be a mistake right. She said o no that's what it costs and u are not the only patient receiving these outrageous bills. She said to just call the lab and tell them I received this bill bc apparently it's suppose to just go to insurance and I don't have to pay anything, jus my insurance does! While I'm glad I do not have to pay for it, it's total bullshit they scamming my insurance |
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| Posted by: June W. in Little Rock, AR. | Posted: July 12th, 2017 10:07PM |
| Type of Test: 22 plus Presumptive | Brand/Laboratory: AR Pain Ctrs |
Chronic back pain&Fibromyalgia. Pain center got their Own testing machines and now more tests are ordered and now every two months instead of 3 or4 times yearly. NP spends maybe 5 minutes with me now.never once tested positive for something I shouldn't. It's either a rip off or a way to discourage drug seekers because cost is Outrageous now and every two months per opioid epidemic. So hurtful to people trying to work and stay off disability only to be bilked for trying to get enough relief to be productive. |
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| Posted by: jamess in Westminster, CO. | Posted: June 9th, 2017 08:06AM |
| Type of Test: Urine toxicology test | Brand/Laboratory: Insight Laboratories |
I went to Colorado pain management for a shoulder injury from basketball. I was told from the doctor that a urine test was needed. I agreed to it thinking that it would be around $150. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. I received a bill from Insight Laboratory in the amount of $1,729.63. I was shocked! I never thought that a urine test would be that much. |
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| Posted by: Tired of getting ripped off! in Portland, OR. | Posted: May 18th, 2017 11:05AM |
| Type of Test: Drug test def 22/PRSMV INSTRMNT CHEMISTR | Brand/Laboratory: Certigen Laboratory, LLC |
My claim explanation sheet from my insurance. For my ONE visit in Apr they were billed $5,277 for ONE cup of pee to be tested. After the run around I call the lab and I say, really...over $5K for a drug test. They say they have special machines that cost $200K & these are specialized tests...all I hear is scam, scam, scam. They then say...well after all the discounts and write offs you only are responsible for $75 for each test. Oh, okay so I should feel okay that you just scammed my insurance company out of $5K which makes my and everyone else's rates sky rocket because of outrageous pricing. $10-$100 for a test at the grocery store, a professional should be able to do for a few hundred bucks. We are being raped companies & the ones paying the REAL MONEY are the lower middle and middle class. We pay for those who can't pay & we pay for those who write it off. It is time to call your docs office and demand they find less expensive options, challenge your insurance cos. SPEAK UP! |
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| Posted by: Roger Coates in VICTORIA, TX. | Posted: April 16th, 2017 08:04AM |
| Type of Test: Saliva | Brand/Laboratory: Eastern Community Lab, LLC |
On my first visit to a Pain Management Specialist, they requested a Drug Screen. The nurse had just directed me to a restroom to relieve myself. Then she said I could either wait or do a simple saliva test. She mumbled something about I might receive an EOB from my insurance. They billed my insurance $5353.13. The insurance paid $774.20, leaving me with a balance of $4578.93. I will go to my grave owing this bill. I see many complaints here, but no resolution. Has anyone had success busting this scandalous activity? A 12 panel saliva test is available for under $10, and readable by a nurse. |
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| Posted by: R R in Marble Falls, TX. | Posted: January 19th, 2017 11:01AM |
| Type of Test: Urine | Brand/Laboratory: Scott & White |
I was "bullied" into taking a drug test to get the regular medicine I had for 20 years. This is just the most common pain relief med. 5 mg Hydro/ Acedo. lowest dose there is. What should have been a $30-40 test as billed as $1085.00. I have spent 10 months trying to straighten this out but no success so far. There is no requirement to take a drug test to get pain medication. If you are being "conned" into this, go to another doctor. General Practitioners can prescribe, you don't have to be screwed into a Pain Management Program that can cost you $1000.00 Thousand and Thousands of dollars. I wished I knew what I do now and had just walked out rather than get ripped off by this test. My test passed / negative/ but I was still billed $1085 dollars for this "punk" doctors fishing and costing me a lot of money .. for no reason at all. This was at Scott and White, so walk out if they try this on you and look for other doctors. If you have Scott & White Insurance, get any other company. |
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| Posted by: PCB in Woodstock, GA. | Posted: December 28th, 2016 06:12PM |
| Type of Test: Basic drug screen | Brand/Laboratory: CPM LABS, LLC |
I am apparently required by law to have my urine tested periodically, as I'm having to take morphine and hydrocodone in order to alleviate some serious chronic back and leg pain. I just found out my Pain Dr's company now has in house testing done and was billed $808 as this lab of theirs is out of network. Doing some research, this appears to be a fairly new and popular way to rip off patients and insurance companies. I am contacting my Congressmen/women and any other agency I can about this total rip off of those of us who are most vulnerable. All of you who can, please do the same this is an egregious practice that must be halted. It is so unethical and downright blatantly criminal I am dumbfounded. I am horrified those who are trained to supposedly help us are jumping onto this urine test bandwagon. They never even gave me the option of an alternative or a warning they would be charging me. Maybe I should find a good lawyer as well! I'm furious,for us all! |
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| Posted by: Crazy in Arlington in Farmers branch, TX. | Posted: December 26th, 2016 08:12PM |
| Type of Test: Urine drug test | Brand/Laboratory: Integrity health plus |
My insurance pays well then I got 2 bills from this lab saying I owe all this money. For simple drug test. Ridiculous. |
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| Posted by: Rene' Wilson in Houston, TX. | Posted: November 10th, 2016 08:11PM |
| Type of Test: Urine Drug Screen | Brand/Laboratory: Central Clinical |
Dr's office required a urine drug screen for both my son and me due to the medications we are on. They collected the urine and said they will use an "In Network" lab and not to worry. I just received EOB From Insurance showing that the lab charged $5,521.60 FOR EACH OF US to have our urine drug screenings!!!! This is outrageous. No wonder our insurance premiums are so high. I checked prices with several other labs and was told that a Urine Drug Screening should not cost over $80.00 and one local lab charges $49.00!!! |
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| Posted by: Sean McRae in OKC, OK. | Posted: October 21st, 2016 02:10PM |
| Type of Test: PAIN MGMT URINALYSIS | Brand/Laboratory: Analytical Edge Laboratories |
First year of treatment by pain mgmt specialist, urinalysis was done on monthly basis. Received a separate bill from an out-of-network lab over $6000. Asked nurse practitioner, who saw me each month-never even met the doctor.She said "don't worry about that. a lot of patients have complained.Just call XYZ lab & ask them to call me.We intend to do monthly urinalysis & we intend to take over all your prescriptions. I asked "all of them?Even ones not related to pain?" "yes, all of them",she replied. The 2nd year, urinalysis frequency changed to every 2- 3 months.She said they were no longer going to prescribe non-pain medications they'd taken over. She said to I "tell" my primary care physician to prescribe them.Third & 4th year: 5-6 urinalysis/year, by in-state/in-network, reasonably priced labs. Aug 2016 urinalysis $972 claim out-of-network lab denied by insurance.She said that was their new lab,$972 was reasonable urinalysis cost & I was responsible for what insurance didn't pay. |
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| Posted by: rascal in Bismarck, ND. | Posted: August 7th, 2016 12:08PM |
| Type of Test: urine | Brand/Laboratory: CHI St. Alexius Health |
Took a drug test to show that I was not the drug addict that they treated as. I had been a long time morphine user for pain and was just dropped as a patient, along with many others, with no notice and I got off the morphine on my own and I didn't go to any other drugs. They recently started another pain clinic and I went to them, as other doctors wanted nothing to do with me. I told them I expected a drug test to show that I was not the drug addict and user they thought was and two weeks later I got this huge bill. The doctor should have told me what a drug test, costs and I wouldn't have taken it. I am still waiting for a itemized statement of the drug tests. In this day and age, there is no reason for a drug test to cost this much. I know I am getting screwed without Vaseline. |
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| Posted by: gg in Phoenix, AZ. | Posted: July 8th, 2016 03:07AM |
| Type of Test: Urine drug screen. | Brand/Laboratory: Southwest Labs, Dallas, TX. |
They KNOW at least 2 possibly 3 drugs would be positive. I was told it would be a drug SCREEN, (no mention of genetic testing) just to b sure i an taking my medications and not selling them. I work in a lab. I have a great idea as to how much a screen should cost me after insurance pays the negotiated rate. $20 copay. Thats it! So why do i have a bill due by 7/22/16 btw! I just received it on 7/7/16, for amount due over $5300??? I have to work for weeks, not spend 1 dime of my takehome pay, and after about6 weeks i could pay this bill. Not that i would, but i could. This is what I call WALLET RAPE!!!!! I have only pd the copay, but they claim i owe them $5300+. |
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| Posted by: JLW in Cedar park, TX. | Posted: July 7th, 2016 11:07PM |
| Type of Test: Urine | Brand/Laboratory: AllCareMe |
9000 to test my piss in a cup.
I now owe 2000. I'm expected to do these every 3 months. That's 8000 a year. Considering suffering through my inability to concentrate for 12 hours in a sitting on the phone sales job because the amount that it helps me isn't worth taking out a second mortgage on my house to pay it.
Absolutely sickening. |
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| Posted by: Kat D in Sherman, OK. | Posted: July 4th, 2016 05:07AM |
| Type of Test: drug screen | Brand/Laboratory: advanced Laboratory services |
Billed for over $7,400 for each drug test my doctor insisted on. I had 3 of them totaling over $22,000.
But then told that I don't have to pay, they will "claim it as a loss"
All I have is their word I will not go to collections.
And even if it doesn't, how does that not affect my credit score? |
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| Posted by: Brian J in Spotsilvania, VA. | Posted: June 24th, 2016 11:06AM |
| Type of Test: Blood and urine toxicology | Brand/Laboratory: Quest |
This is totally ridiculous how can someone be expected to pay that much for a drug screen employer states that's who and what the NTA expects and uses for the services for driver testing and then on top of that charged even more after it was done to have the results expedited by the laboratory costing a total of $1780.00 |
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| Posted by: [email protected] in Gonzales, LA. | Posted: May 2nd, 2016 11:05PM |
| Type of Test: urine test | Brand/Laboratory: Quantum Laboratories LLC |
The statement of benefits I received showed 34 individual "lab tests". There is no other explanation. The only thing it could be is a drug test, as I had a pain management visit with a drug test that day. Most of the charges were at least double what my insurance coverage allows. The only mention in paperwork, of anything to do with laboratory testing, was in small print at the bottom of an agreement I was required to sign in order to receive pain medication. It states I am being "referred" to Quantum for laboratory testing. But, that I am not required to use that laboratory. However, I was never even notified that anything was being sent to a laboratory, nor that it would not be covered by my insurance. I know nothing about pain management, so I had no idea how any of it works. I know they do drug testing, and I have no problem with that. I just assumed it would be an inexpensive test done within the physician's office. I feel like I was taken advantage of. |
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External Resources: | - www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/InVitroDiagnostics/HomeUse...
- www.anylabtestnow.com/for-individuals/toxicology/
- www.healthtestingcenters.com/drug.aspx
- www.prepaidlab.com/Drug-Tests.html
- www.anylabtestnow.com/for-individuals/toxicology/drug-testing/
- labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/drug-abuse/tab/sample
- www.anylabtestnow.com/franchises/austin-78731/
- /www.labcorp.com/wps/portal/findalab/
- www.questdiagnostics.com/home.html
- www.healthtestingcenters.com
- www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/IVDRegulatoryAssistance/ucm...
- labtestsonline.org/lab/labquality/start/1
- labtestsonline.org/lab/labquality/start/3
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